Image source, Scottish Parliament

That's all from Holyrood Live on 18 January 2017.

Employability Minister Jamie Hepburn says we have heard of the "devastating impact" of the Caterpillar plant closure. 

Mr Hepburn says it affected everyone in the area and beyond greatly when workers took part in the 103 day occupation. 

The employability minister says it remains unclear the specific rationale behind closing the plant as it was profitable. 

Mr Hepburn says it is an indication of the value of trade unions.

He says the Scottish government have a valued relationship with trade unions. 

Mr Hepburn says this government has consistently opposed the "draconian" Trade Union Act. 

Labour MSP Neil Findlay says ultimately the plant closed as the employers turned to the courts to end the occupation.

Mr Findlay says "it is better to die standing than live on your knees." and those who took part in the occupation did not live on their knees.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Pauline McNeill says the ingenuity of the Caterpillar sit in campaign is what struck her.

Ms McNeill says painting the tractor pink at the site was ingenious.

The Labour MSP says the campaign achieved enhanced redundancy packages.

Image source, bbc

Green MSP Ross Greer says this sit in was not the history that he was taught in school and he asks "why not?".

Mr Greer says the trade union movement in Scotland has a proud history, but he says we need a winning future.

Labour MSP Elaine Smith welcomes the veterans of the industrial action and remembers those that are no longer with us.

She says they are an inspiration and their spirit is the same that helped create democracy in this country.

"We stand on the shoulders of men and women like those in the gallery and we must not forget that."

Image source, bbc

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell says the closure of the Caterpillar plant was a huge blow and the response of the workers was to stage a sit in.

Ms Mitchell says during the 103 days the ensured their plight was heard around world and they secured a deal.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP James Kelly praises the dignity that was exemplified by the Caterpillar workforce and says it must be brought forth in 2017.

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SNP MSP Richard Lyle says many in the community joined the sit in at Tannochside.

Mr Lye says he recognises the efforts made by the workers and this tribute is for every one of them.

Image source, PRESS EYE

The Evening News ran the following story in Feburary 2014, external:

They defied their US paymasters by ­staging a marathon ­occupation in a desperate attempt to save their jobs and three decades on a commemorative structure will be erected to honour them.

For 103 days the workforce at the closure-threatened Caterpillar plant at Tannochside, near Udding­ston, North Lanarkshire, held a sit-in willed on by the support of the Scottish ­nation and watched afar from around the world.

Union leaders and politicians tried to persuade the manufacturing giant to keep open a plant which had been operating in Tannochside since 1956 while school children gave beleaguered production workers their pocket money to pay bus fares to and from the plant's gates.

Mr Leonard says if workers do not fight for themselves, nobody else will.

The Labour MSP says collections were made to help the cause at football matches and "this was real solidarity".

Mr Leonard says industrial democracy can prevail and the real division is not between Scotland and England but between those who have the wealth and those who create it. 

He says this parliament must be used to forge the real change that working people need. 

Mr Leonard uses his motion to celebrate "the courageous stance taken by workers at the Caterpillar Plant in Tannochside who staged a 103-day occupation in defence of jobs, beginning on 14 January 1987".

The Labour MSP highlights the support given to the occupation by the labour and trades union movement across the UK and internationally.

He says he regrets the decision of the company to seek an eviction notice from the courts.

Mr Leonard says this action by the workers resulted in improved pay-offs for the workforce, and believes that this occupation serves as a reminder of the value of workers standing together in the common interest against corporate greed.

Image source, bbc

Labour MSP Richard Leonard says he can think of no greater honour than securing this as his first member's debate.

Mr Leonard says political change will come about when it is challenged by those below.

The Labour MSP welcomes "some of those working people who believed in themselves" to the public gallery.

Image source, bbc

Mr Leonard welcomes members who occupied the Caterpillar Plant n the public gallery.   

Labour MSP Richard Leonard will now lead a member's debate entitled: '30th Anniversary of Workers’ Occupation of Caterpillar Plant in Tannochside'.